Adapter for plastic door handles



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J. W. PULASKI ADAP'I'E R FOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES Flled Oct 17, 1949Oct. 10, 1950 Patented Oct. 10,

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER FGR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES JohnPulaski, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,682

3 Claims.

This invention relates to door handles and more particularly to a devicethat makes possible the utilization of a molded plastic handle for arefrigerator door.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device that willmaterially aid in satisfactory operation of a plastic handle for arefrigerator door. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that willgive along, useful life to a molded plastic handle for a door.

Broadly, this invention comprises a device that is interpositionedbetween a plastic handle and a latch releasing device on a refrigeratordoor. Through the utilization of this invention, a plastic handle can bemadeto release a latchwhich holds the door of a refrigerator closed.

Further objects and advantages-of this invention will become apparentand the invention will be better understood from the followingdescription referring to the accompanying drawing and the features ofnovelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification. I

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly In section, showing aplastic handle attached by means of the present invention to arefrigerator door; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of aplastic handle attached to the adapter itself; Fig. 3 is an end view ofa plastic handle attached to the adapter; while Fig. 4 is theperspective view of a plastic handle ready for assembly with theadapter.

Referring to the drawing, a refrigerator I is provided with a door 2having a conventional latch operating pin 3 for releasing the door fromthe refrigerator body, permitting the door to swing about hinges (notshown) giving access to a storage space within the refrigerator body.

A mounting plate 4 has a base 5 which matches the contour ofdoor 2 andis positioned on the door adjacent the latch operating pin 3 by suitablebolts Sa passing through openings 6 into the door 2. Latch operating pin3 extends through an opening I in base 5. In addition to the baseportion 5, two lateral flange members 8 are pro-.

vided in spaced relationship on plate 4 and they are in planes at rightangles to base portion 5. Within each flange member 8, an opening 9 isprovided which is a bearing for a pivot pin II]. The handle mechanismpivots about pivot pin l8 and operates the latch operating pin 3.

An adapting member or adapter II is located between the flanges-.8 ofbase member 4.

The

2 adapter comprises a bottomportion I2, two side portions I3 and an endportion I4.

Side portions I3 ofthe adapter are in parallel planes perpendicular tothe bottom portion i2. End portion: I4 is in a plane substantially atright angles to'and is welded or otherwise connected to side portionsI3. Each side portion i3 has an opening I5 therein through which pivotpin I passes. Th'e'openings I in the side portions I3 are so formed thatan inner shoulder it is positioned. on the adjacent faces of each sideportion I3. Shoulders I6, in turn, serve as a bearing surface for acoil. spring. openings I5, each side. portion I3 contains one of a pairof aligned openings I! and I8. v Opening I"! is threaded to :operativelyengage the threaded portion of a screw I9 while opening I8 I is outlarge enough to allow all but the head of screw I9 to pass therethrough.

In the adapter I I, a lip 20 is provided on each of the side portionsI3. Each lip comprises an inturned portion which is substantiallyperpendicular to its respective side portion I3 and end plate or portionI4, but the lips 20 are not parallel to the bottom portion I2. 7

A solid plastic handle 22a is provided for oper ating the pin 3. Thehandle may be made of any suitable plastic material, such as polystyreneor methyl methacrylate. The handle has a base portion 22 and an extendedor gripping portion 23 of any conventional design. Base portion 22 isprovided at each side with a groove 24, and these grooves areoperatively engaged by lips 20 of adapter II. Below grooves 24, thesides 24a of base portion 22 are cut away to an extent that thethickness of the body portion below the grooves, plus the thickness ofthe sides I3 of the adapter I I, is substantially equal to the thicknessof the section of base 22 above the grooves 24. The base portion 22 isalso provided with a portion 26 which extends below groove 24 to give agreater shear area in thehandle. The extended portion 26 has 'a bottom25 shaped to match the bottom portion I2 of adapter II. The handle 2251/also provided with a rounded portion 28 which matches a rounded portion29 on the side portion I3 of the adapter.

When handle 22a is fitted into adapter I I, lips are slid into thegrooves 24 until back portion 30 of base 22 contacts the end portion I4oi adapter I I. Bottom portion of base portion 22 is then against bottomportion 12 of adapter II and rounded portion 2B fits against rounded portion 28 in handle 22a. screw I9 is then inserted through opening I8 inone of the side members In addition to l3 and threaded into thecorresponding threaded opening I! in the other side [3. When the screwis tightened, the side portions [3 are pressed against the base portion22 of the handle, and lips 26 on the adapter engage grooves 24 on theplastic handle. Consequently, when handle 22a is pulled to open thedoor, the opening force is distributed the entire length of lips 29.With the structure of this invention, handle 22a cannot slip out ofengagement with flange portion 20 unless side members 26 below groove 24are sheared away from base portion 22 of plastic handle 22a.

A striking plate 3| is positioned between the plastic handle andoperatingpin 3. The striking. plate comprises an elongated portion whichextends from the forward point 32 of the plastic handle to pivot pinll]. At pivot I0, the striking plate is shaped to form a loop 34 throughwhichlo extends F'to support the striking pivot pin plate. Strikingplate ,3l,has a protrusion33 which engages a pin 3 when extended portion23 of the handle is pulled away. from the refrigerator door. The loop34, which-.fitsaround pivot pin IE, is of a convenient width that easilyfits between side portions [3 of adapter II.

A spring 2 I is provided for keeping bottom portion [2 of adapter Hagainst base of mounting plate 4. Spring 2| is madeof conventional wirematerial and is first formed in a U-shape with two legs 35 and 36 joinedby a cross member 37. Legs 35 and 36 of the spring 2| are each bentthrough several turns, so as toform loops 38 which fit overshoulders 16o'fjopenings [5 in adapter H. Pivot pin I-O passes through loops 38 ofspring 2|. Cross member 31 passes between striking plate 3] and supportplate 4 and serves to keep the striking plate resiliently againstplastic handle 22a. The free ends oflthe legs- 35 and 36 of the spring2| rest up against base portion 5 of mounting plate 4 and aid in theresilient spring keeping the handle member in a retracted position withbottom portion l2--of adapter H against base 5 of mountin plate 4.

The component parts of the handle are assembled in the following manner.Adapter II is slid over base portion 22 of handle 22a with lips 20 onside portions I3 sliding into grooves 24 on base portion 22. Spring 2|is then inserted over shoulders l6 adjacent openings 5 with the freeends 35, 36 located away from base portion 22 of handle 22a. Strikingplate 3| 'is then slid under the cross member 31 of the springand placedin position for loop member 34 to be engaged by pivot pin H3. Screw I9is then inserted through opening [8 in one side l3 into threaded engagewment with the threaded portion of hole IT, in the other side l3 andtightened to firmly position the plastic handle. The assembly, includingthe handle, adapter ll, spring 2|, and striking plate 3|, is thenpositioned in operative engagement with the mounting plate 4, Pin isinserted through openings 9 in mounting plate 4, openings [5 in adapterl l, loops 33 in spring member 2| and loop 34 of striking plate 3|; Thepin end is then peened to retain the component parts in operativepositions. V

It is to be noted that in the operative association between handlemember22a and adapter plate H there is an adjustment in the positioningof the two parts, Since there is a sliding engagement between theadapter plate II and the grooves 24 of the handle 22a, there can beanadjustment in position-until screw 9 is securely.

4 fastened. After screw 19 has been fastened, however, then there is nomovement between the handle and adapter plate ll.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art,and it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to belimited to the particular arrangement disclosed,

but that the appended claims are meant to cover all, the modificationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A latch operating device for a refrigerator door comprising a latchoperating pin, a mounting plate having a base conforming with thesurface ofthe door and having an opening to provide for the extension ofsaid pin therethrough, said mounting plate including a pair of flangemembers extending in parallel planes perpendicularly from the plane ofsaid base, a pivot pin mounted on said flange members, an adaptermounted within said flange members, said adapter having a bottomportion, two side portions, and an end portion, said side portions beingin parallel planes perpendicular to said bottom portion, said adapterbeing pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, each of said side portionsincluding a turned-in lip, said, lips being directed toward each other,said end portion of said adapter being substantially perpendicular tothe planes of said side portions and being rigidly secured thereto, amolded plastic handle operatively engaged by said adapter and pivotablewith said adapter, about said-pivot pin to actuate said latch operatingpin, said handle having 'a base portion and a gripping portion, a pairof grooves in said base portion, said lips extending into said grooves,means engaging said side portions of said adapter.- for'forcing saidside portions toward each other. to maintain said adapter in engagementwithosaid base portion of said handle, said base portion of said handlebeing recessed below said grooves to a depth sub-. stantially equal tothe thickness of said side portions of said adapter and including anextended portion below said grooves in said'base portion that conformswith the inner surface of said adapter. a H

2. An adapter for a plastic handle, said adapter comprising a bottomportion, two 'side'portions, and an end portion, said side portionsbeing in parallel planes extending perpendicularly from the plane ofsaid bottom portion-each of said side portions including a bearingsurface for a pivot pin, said side portions being provided with a pairof aligned openings, one in eachof said side portions, each of said sideportions including, a lip extending inwardly therefrom, said end por-ltion extending from said-base portion substan-l tially perpendicular toand rigidly secured to said side portions, and'a screw extending throughsaid.

H 3, The combination of a plastic han dle and an adapter therefor, saidcombination comprising a.

molded plastic handle having a base portion and a gripping portion, saidhandle base portion having a pair of grooves :therein,said base portion:

including an extended portion below said grooves in said base portion toincrease the shear area of said base portion, said adapter having abottom portion and two side portions and an endportion, said sideportions being'in parallel planes perpendicular to said bottom portionand extending therefrom, a pivot pin, each-of saidside p0r-.

portions toward each tions including a bearing surface for said pivotREFERENCES CITED pin, said side portions having aligned openingstherein, each of said side portions including a lip extending inwardlyfrom its respective side The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

portion, said lips being received within said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTSgrooves in said handle base portion, and threaded Number Name Datsecuring means for forcing said side portions of 2,260,154 North et a1Oct. 21, 1941 said adapter toward each other to maintain said 2,307,145Mattoon Jan; 5, 1943 adapter in engagement with said handle. 2,444,180Anderson June 29, 1948 JOHN W. PULASKI. l0

